Brushes

ABSTRACT

A brush is provided with a selectively rotatable brush head. The brush can advantageously be a toothbrush, and the selective rotation of the head gives advantages in reaching teeth and areas of the mouth which are hard to brush properly with a standard brush, thus increasing oral hygiene.

The present invention relates to brushes, especially toothbrushes.

Dentists advise that teeth are brushed for at least 2 minutes brushingthe teeth thoroughly, using short gentle strokes, and paying extraattention to the gum line, hard-to-reach back teeth and areas aroundfillings, crowns or other restoration. They advise particular attentionmust be paid to cleaning the outer surfaces of upper teeth, then thelower teeth, cleaning the inner surfaces of the upper teeth, then thelower teeth, and cleaning the teeth's chewing surfaces. For fresherbreath, it is also advised to brush the tongue and inner cheeks.

However, in vast amount of cases the public at large do not follow theabove advice and have their own technique. This makes for inefficient orincomplete brushing, increasing the danger of developing tooth decay andgum disease.

Standard toothbrushes find it difficult to provide a diversity offunction to effectively perform the variety of cleaning functions thatare required for effectively maintaining oral hygiene. Therefore, it isdesirable to provide a toothbrush that can provide for cleaning in areasthat are hard to reach and that is easy to use without requiring aradical change in brushing habits.

According to the present invention there is provided a brush comprisinga brush head and a handle portion, the brush head being selectivelyrotatable with respect to the handle portion.

“Selectively rotatable” is herein taken to mean that the angle of thebrush head relative to the handle portion can be varied to be set at oneposition, selected from a plurality of available positions.

Preferably, the brush comprises selectively engageable indexing meansoperable to provide the selective rotation.

Preferably, the indexing means comprises a rotatable connector assemblyattached to the brush head and the handle portion.

Preferably the rotatable connector assembly comprises a plug member anda socket, more preferably the plug member and the socket aresubstantially circular in cross section.

Preferably, one of the plug member and the socket includes at least onetab and the other of the plug member and the socket includes at leastone groove, the tabs and grooves being arranged such that in use a tabmay be located within a groove to impede rotational movement of therotatable connector assembly.

Preferably, a plurality of grooves are provided to enable the rotatableconnector assembly to be arranged such that a plurality of predeterminedangles of the brush head relative to the handle portion may be selectedin use.

Preferably, a displacement of the plug member relative to the socket isprovided for to allow disengagement of a tab from a groove, mostpreferably without disconnecting the brush head from the handle portion.

Preferably the plug member includes a radially extending lip portionco-operable with a corresponding radially indented groove extending atleast partially around an inner surface of the socket.

Preferably the plug member includes around its lower edge a radiallyextending plug flange co-operable with a corresponding radiallyextending socket flange extending around the upper surface of thesocket.

Preferably, plug member and socket are engageable with a snap-fitconnection.

Preferably, the handle portion is provided with a plug member receivingaperture.

Preferably, the socket is provided on an inner surface of an aperture inthe brush head.

Preferably, a bristle head is fixed to the handle portion, comprisingbristles for protrusion through the aperture in the brush head.

Preferably, the brush head is provided with side bristles which areselectively rotatable about the bristle head bristles.

Preferably, the brush comprises a motor for rotating the bristle headbristles around their central axis.

Preferably, the indexing means is provided on the brush at a locationspaced from the brush head.

Preferably, an actuator means is provided for operation of the indexingmeans.

Preferably, the handle portion comprises slidably movable halves withcorresponding corrugations.

The slidably movable halves function as the actuator means.

Preferably, the corrugations define a number of selectable relativepositions of the two halves.

The corrugations act as an indexing means.

Preferably, upper portions of each half are fixed to opposing sides of arotatable brush head, such that each selectable relative position of thetwo halves corresponds to an angle of orientation of the brush headrelative to the handle portion.

Preferably, a snap fit runner is provided for the sliding motion of thetwo halves.

Preferably, the actuator means comprises an actuator arm and a drivemeans for moving the actuator arm.

Preferably, the drive means comprises a scroll wheel connected to theactuator arm.

Preferably, one of the scroll wheel and the body of the handle portionis provided with at least one tab and the other of the scroll wheel andthe body of the handle portion is provided with at least one groove, thetabs and grooves being arranged such that in use a tab may be locatedwithin a groove to impede motion of the actuator arm.

Preferably, the actuator arm is connected at an upper end to the brushhead and is shaped such that linear motion of the actuator arm causes arotational motion of the brush head.

Preferably, the actuator arm runs along a track provided in the shaft ofthe handle portion.

Preferably, the actuator arm is formed from a rubber material.

Preferably, a belt member is provided within the body of the brush, saidbelt member being drivable in a longitudinal direction.

Preferably, an upper portion of the belt member is provided with teethfor engagement with corresponding teeth provided on the brush head.

Preferably, the belt member is provided with interlockable protrusionsprovided on opposing inner belt surfaces.

Preferably, the belt member is provided with a push-pad for operation todrive the belt member.

Preferably, the push-pad is provided at the surface of the brush foroperation by a user.

Preferably, the belt member is formed from a rubber material.

Preferably, the brush is a toothbrush.

Preferably, a brush is provided which has a mechanical drive means forrotation of the brush head.

Preferably, said mechanical drive means is comprised in a handle portionof the brush.

Preferably, said mechanical drive means comprises a head connector andtorque application means for applying a rotational torque to the headconnector.

Preferably, said torque application means comprises a spring.

Optionally, said torque application means comprises a rubber band.

Preferably, a gear train is interposed between the torque applicationmeans and the head connector.

Preferably, the gear train is an epicyclical gear train.

Preferably, an oscillator is provided at the gear train, which comprisesa peripheral projection for engagement with an outer portion of a baseof the head connector.

Preferably, a drive member is provided for tensioning the torqueapplication means.

Preferably, the drive member comprises an internal fluting forengagement with a ratchet on the handle portion to hold the drive memberin place once it has been activated to tension the torque applicationmeans.

Preferably, the drive member forms a lower portion of the handleportion.

Preferably, a brake means is selectively engageable to hold the torqueapplication means in tension, thus preventing rotation of the headconnector.

Preferably, said brake means comprises a clamp member for selectiveengagement with a shaft provided at the gear train.

Preferably, said brake means is operable by external pressure applied tothe outer surface of the handle portion.

Preferably, a brush is provided with a head portion, engageable with thehead connector for the rotation of bristles provided on the headportion.

Preferably, the brush is a toothbrush.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 to 4 show side, front and head end views respectively of atoothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective rear view of a rotatable connector assembly ofthe toothbrush depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4 showing detail of the plugmember;

FIG. 6 is a perspective front view of the rotatable connector assemblyof FIG. 5 showing detail of the socket;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a toothbrush according to a second embodiment;

FIGS. 9-12 show a toothbrush according to a third embodiment;

FIGS. 13-15 show a toothbrush according to a fourth embodiment;

FIGS. 16-19 show a toothbrush according to a fifth embodiment;

FIGS. 20 and 21 show a toothbrush according to a sixth embodiment; and

FIGS. 22-24 show a toothbrush according to a seventh embodiment.

A first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 thereis shown a toothbrush generally referred to as 10. The toothbrush 10comprises a brush head 12 and handle portion 11 which in turn comprisesa neck portion 14, a stem 16 and a handle 18. The brush head 12 has aplurality of nylon bristles 12 a extending from it.

Aside from the nylon bristles 12 a, the toothbrush 10 is formed from aplastics material which may be any material, such as a polymer, suitablefor the purpose. It is advantageous if the plastics material has aresilient quality.

The toothbrush 10 is similar in general form to those well known in theart and is primarily intended for use in maintaining oral hygiene.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown detail of a rotatableconnector assembly 20 located between the brush head 12 and the neckportion 14. The rotatable connector assembly 20 allows the brush head 12to be rotated around its central axis. This allows the user to vary theangle of the brush head 12 relative to the handle portion 11.

The rotatable connector assembly 20 comprises a section located on thebrush head 12 and a section located on the handle portion 11.

Referring to FIG. 5, the section located on the brush head 12 comprisesa plug member 22 which extends away from the brush head 12. Around thelower edge of the plug member 22 there is provided a plug flange 24.Extending radially from the plug member 22 along the surface of the plugflange 24 is provided a tab 26. The tab 26 is generally semi-circular incross section. The plug member 22 is in two parts, with a gap betweeneach part.

Extending peripherally around the upper edge of the plug member 22 andprotruding radially outward from the plug member 22 is a plug lip 28.The plug lip 28 increases slightly in diameter in a linear manner, frominitially coterminous with the diameter of the plug member 22 to itsgreatest diameter at its lowest edge, located nearest the plug flange24.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown detail of the section of therotatable connector assembly 20 that is provided on the neck portion 14.This comprises a socket 30 around the top edge of which is provided asocket flange 32. Around the inner surface of the socket 30 there isprovided a lip-engaging groove 34.

Extending radially inward from the outer edge of the socket flange 32towards the socket 30 there is a plurality of tab-engaging grooves 36.The tab-engaging grooves 36 are generally semi-circular in crosssection.

In situ, the plug member 22 is located within the socket 30. The pluglip 28 is located within the lip-engaging groove 34. The two flanges24,32 abut one another and the tab 26 co-operably engages one of thetab-engaging grooves 36, locking the brush head 12 into a particularposition. The construction of the plug member 22 allows it to beinserted into the socket 30 and be securely held therein by theengagement of the plug lip 28 and the lip-engaging groove 34.Particularly, the linear diameter increase of the plug lip 28 and thefact that the plug member 22 is formed in two parts with a gap betweeneach part coupled with the use of a resilient material, allows the plugmember 22 to be pushed into engagement with the socket 30 withoutexcessive force. Once held within the socket 30, the interaction of theplug lip 28 and the lip-engaging groove 34 impede removal of the plugmember 22 from the socket. However, some small displacement of the plugmember 22 relative to the socket 30 is provided for.

In a variation of this embodiment, tab engaging grooves may be formed onthe brush head 12 and the tab may be formed on an inner surface of thesocket 34. The “tab and groove” arrangement provides an indexing means,that is means which define a series of predetermined interlock positionsfor positioning of the brush head relative to the handle portion.

In use, the toothbrush 10 is preset at a particular angle. The user mayselect a different angle of brush 12 by pulling the brush head gentlyaway from the neck portion 14, thereby disengaging the tab 26 from oneof the tab-engaging grooves 36. The user may then rotate the brush head12 with respect to the neck portion 14 and re-engage the tab 26 withanother of the tab-engaging grooves 36. FIGS. 1 and 3 show the brushhead 12 in two different positions.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a brush according to a second embodiment. As inthe first embodiment, a rotatable connector assembly is provided whichcomprises a section located on the brush head 40 and a section locatedon the handle portion 42.

Referring to FIG. 7, the section located on the brush head 40 comprisesa plug member 44 which extends away from the brush head 40. Around thelower edge of the plug member 44 there is provided a plug flange 46.Extending radially from the plug member 44 along the surface of the plugflange 46 is provided a tab 48. The tab 48 is generally semi-circular incross section, and is provided with a notched recess 50.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown detail of the section of therotatable connector assembly that is provided on the neck portion 42.This comprises a socket formed from an aperture 52 in the neck portion42. The inner surface of the aperture is provided with a plurality oftab-engaging grooves 54. The tab-engaging grooves 45 are generallysemi-circular in cross section.

The plug member 44 engages in a snap fit with the socket, the notchedrecess 50 of the plug member 44 engaging with a corresponding lip 56 ofthe socket, being provided as a circumferential groove. The grooveprovides a certain amount of give for selective engagement of thenotched recess 50 with the groove, while the plug 44 remains in theaperture 52.

In a variation of this embodiment, tab engaging grooves may be formed onthe brush head 40 and the tab may be formed on an inner surface of theaperture 50.

In use, the user may select a different angle of brush head 40 in amanner similar to that of the first embodiment.

A toothbrush according to a third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 9-12. Asshown in FIG. 10, a handle portion 60 has a bristle head 62 providedthereupon. The bristle head 62 comprises bristles 64 which are mountedon a base member 66. the bristle head 62 is of a well known form, beingfor use with an electric motor which drives the bristles 64 about thecentral axis of the bristle head 62. The handle portion 60 furthercomprises a circumferential recess 68 with an indexing tab 70.

FIG. 9 shows the brush head 72, which comprises an aperture 74 forreceiving the bristle head 62. The inner surface of the aperture 74receives the recess 68 of the bristle head 62 and comprises a pluralityof notches 76 for engagement with the tab 70 of the handle portion 60.The brush head 72 is further provided with side bristles 78 on itsperipheral portions.

When the brush is assembled, the brush head 72, and with it the sidebristles 78, are selectively rotatable in a manner similar to the firstand second embodiments. FIGS. 11 and 12 show examples of two differentbrush head positions. As can be seen in FIG. 11, the brush head 72 maybe provided with a grip portion 80 for ease of use.

The brush of the third embodiment provides the advantages of an electrictoothbrush, with the further enhancement of a selectively rotatablebrush head to clean those “hard-to-reach” areas of the mouth.

A further optional feature of a brush according to various embodimentsis to provide an indexing means at a point spaced from the brush head.Embodiments with this feature can advantageously have an actuator foroperation of the indexing means.

FIGS. 13-15 illustrate a fourth embodiment of a brush, which has thesecharacteristics. A brush 90 comprises a brush head 92 and a handleportion 94 which is composed of two halves, 94 a and 94 b. the twohalves 94 a, 94 b of the handle portion 94 have correspondingcorrugations on the inner surfaces thereof, which act as an indexingmeans. The halves 94 a and 94 b have upper portions 96, 98 respectivelywhich are connected to opposing sides of a protrusion 100 from the brushhead 92. The halves 94 a, 94 b are slidably moveable in order to rotatethe brush head 92. A snap-fit runner feature (not shown) can be providedon the inside of the brush 90 to enable this movement.

FIG. 13 illustrates a first rotation position, where a first half 94 ais lowered relative to the second half 94 b. In this position, the brushhead 92 is held vertically.

FIG. 14 illustrates a second rotation position, where a first half 94 ais held level with the second half 94 b. In this position, the brushhead 92 is inclined at an angle.

FIG. 15 illustrates a third rotation position, where a second half 94 bis lowered relative to the first half 94 a. In this position, the brushhead 92 is held horizontally.

The positions are labelled by indicia 102 on each of the halves 94 a, 94b for ease of selection by the user. In use, the user pulls the twohalves 94 a, 94 b slightly apart, then moves the halves relative to eachother until the indicia 102 line up to his desired angle of rotation.The snap fit runner feature acts as a stop member to limit thedisengagement of the halves 94 a, 94 b, although it allows them to movefar enough apart for the respective corrugations to disengage. When theuser re-engages the corrugations, the two halves 94 a, 94 b are thenheld together by a snap fit and/or by pressure applied by the hand of auser.

In one variation of this embodiment, the upper portions 96, 98 of thetwo halves 94 a, 94 b are formed as one piece with the protrusion 100provided on the brush head 92, and are formed from a flexible materialto provide a hinge type arrangement. In an alternative arrangement, theprotrusion 100 comprises a fixed plug and a rotatable outer portion towhich the upper portions 96, 98 of the two halves 94 a, 94 b areattached.

A brush according to a fifth embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 16-19.As seen in FIG. 16, a brush head 110 is connected to an actuator arm112, which has a connected scroll wheel 114 which acts as a drive meansfor the arm 112. The scroll wheel 114 is provided with a series ofnotches 116 which are selectively engageable with a tab 118 provided ina specially formed recess 120 in the handle portion 122.

The shape of the actuator arm 112 is such that an upward movement causesan anticlockwise rotation of the brush head 110 and a downward movementcauses a clockwise rotation of the brush head 110, as seen in FIG. 16.

The actuator arm travels along a specially formed channel 124 within thebody of the brush to provide the desired effect. The actuator arm can beformed from a high tensile rubber or spring steel material.

The assembled brush 126 is shown in FIGS. 17-19, from which it can beseen that a simple rotation of the scroll wheel 114 moves the brush head110 to different desired rotations.

A brush according to a sixth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 20 and 21.According to this embodiment, a belt member 130 is provided for therotation of a brush head 132 relative to a handle portion 134.

The belt 130 can be driven in a direction along the longitudinal axis ofthe brush. An upper portion 136 is provided with teeth 138 forengagement with corresponding teeth 140 provided on a protrusion 142from the brush head 132.

The belt 130 is provided with interlocking protrusions 144, 146 onopposing internal sides to provide an indexing function. A push pad 148is provided for driving the belt member 130. As seen in FIG. 21, thepush pad 148 is provided at an outer surface of the brush for easyactivation by a user.

A seventh embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 22-24, in whicha brush 150 is provided with mechanical drive means 152 for rotation ofa brush head 154. FIG. 22 shows a brush 150 according to thisembodiment, while FIG. 23 shows a partial cut-away view, and FIG. 24shows an exploded view of the mechanical drive means and handle portion156.

The mechanical drive means 152 comprises a head connector 158 which isengageable with the brush head 154 in a known manner such that rotationof the head connector 158 causes a rotation of the brush head 154 sothat the bristles 160 on the brush head rotate. The force for drivingthe head connector 158 is provided by a spring 162 which is windable toapply a torque. The torque could optionally be provided by a rubberband, or some other suitable means.

To improve operation of the brush, a gear train 164, in this embodimentan epicyclical gear train, is provided to increase the number ofrotations of the head connector 158 with respect the number of rotationsof the spring 162. A shaft 166 of the gear train 164 can also beprovided with a first part of an oscillator 168, comprising a projection170 for engagement with a corresponding notch 172 in an outer portion ofa base of the head connector 158.

In use, a drive member 174, in this embodiment comprising a wheel, ismoved in order to tension the spring 162. The wheel can be made of arubber material so that the user can push or roll the wheel along a flatsurface.

The wheel 174 comprises an internal fluting for engagement with aratchet member 176 provided on the handle portion 156, so that once thewheel 174 has been rotated to tension the spring 162, the wheel 174 canbe held in place to resist the uncoiling force of the spring 162, thusensuring that the energy of the spring uncoiling is transferred onlyinto the rotation of the head connector 158.

The mechanical drive means 152 can further be provided with a brakemeans 178 which is selectively engageable to clamp the shaft 166 of thegear train 164, thus preventing the spring 162 from unwinding, that is,holding it in tension. The brake means is operable by a user by pressureapplied to a brake pad 180 on the external surface of the brush 150.Pressing the brake pad 180 urges a protrusion 182 formed as part of thehandle portion to push the brake 178 into engagement with the shaft 166.The matching square profiles of the brake 178 and shaft 166 serve toprovide a locking function.

In use, the user uses twists or rolls the wheel 174 to wind up thetoothbrush 150. The bristles 160 on the brush head 154 then start torotate so that the user can brush their teeth. When the user wants topause brushing, he can press the brake applicator 180 to store thepotential energy provided by the spring 162.

The brush of the present invention provides a number of advantages.Because the head of the brush can be twisted to multiple positions,brushing in key areas such as the outer and inner back teeth and gums iseasier and more effective as compared with previous toothbrushes, andthere is less restraint on the brushing technique for the user. Theflexibility of the design gives more effective cleaning of the tongueand inner front teeth.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments herein described but maybe varied in both construction and detail.

For example, although the described embodiments have one tab, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that further tabs may be providedto increase the impeding affect of the tab/groove engagement.

Further, it will also be understood to those skilled in the are that thenumber and position of the tab-engaging grooves may be varied. Thetab-engaging grooves do not have to be spaced in an equiangular manner.

1. A brush comprising a brush head and a handle portion, the brush headbeing selectively rotatable with respect to the handle portion.
 2. Thebrush of claim 1, comprising selectively engageable indexing meansoperable to provide the selective rotation.
 3. The brush of claim 2,wherein the indexing means comprises a rotatable connector assemblyattached to the brush head and the handle portion.
 4. The brush of claim3, wherein the rotatable connector assembly comprises a plug member anda socket
 5. The brush of claim 4, wherein the plug member and the socketare substantially circular in cross section.
 6. The brush of claim 4,wherein one of the plug member and the socket includes at least one taband the other of the plug member and the socket includes at least onegroove, the tabs and grooves being arranged such that in use a tab maybe located within a groove to impede rotational movement of therotatable connector assembly.
 7. The brush of claim 6, wherein aplurality of grooves are provided to enable the rotatable connectorassembly to be arranged such that a plurality of predetermined angles ofthe brush head relative to the handle portion may be selected in use. 8.The brush of claim 6, wherein a displacement of the plug member relativeto the socket is provided for to allow disengagement of a tab from agroove without disconnecting the brush head from the handle portion. 9.The brush of claim 4, wherein the plug member includes a radiallyextending lip portion co-operable with a corresponding radially indentedgroove extending at least partially around an inner surface of thesocket.
 10. The brush of claim 4, wherein the plug member includesaround its lower edge a radially extending plug flange co-operable witha corresponding radially extending socket flange extending around theupper surface of the socket.
 11. The brush of claim 4, wherein the plugmember and socket are engageable with a snap-fit connection.
 12. Thebrush of claim 11, wherein the handle portion is provided with a plugmember receiving aperture.
 13. The brush of claim 11, wherein the socketis provided on an inner surface of an aperture in the brush head. 14.The brush of claim 11, wherein a bristle head is fixed to the handleportion, comprising bristles for protrusion through the aperture in thebrush head.
 15. The brush of claim 11, wherein the brush head isprovided with side bristles which are selectively rotatable about thebristle head bristles.
 16. The brush of claim 11, wherein the brushcomprises a motor for rotating the bristle head bristles around theircentral axis.
 17. The brush of claim 1, wherein the indexing means isprovided on the brush at a location spaced from the brush head.
 18. Thebrush of claim 17, wherein an actuator means is provided for operationof the indexing means.
 19. The brush of claim 17, wherein the handleportion comprises slidably movable halves with correspondingcorrugations.
 20. The brush of claim 19, wherein, the corrugationsdefine a number of selectable relative positions of the two halves. 21.The brush of claim 19, wherein upper portions of each half are fixed toopposing sides of a rotatable brush head, such that each selectablerelative position of the two halves corresponds to an angle oforientation of the brush head relative to the handle portion.
 22. Thebrush of claim 19, wherein a snap fit runner is provided for the slidingmotion of the two halves.
 23. The brush of claim 17, wherein theactuator means comprises an actuator arm and a drive means for movingthe actuator arm.
 24. The brush of claim 23, wherein the drive meanscomprises a scroll wheel connected to the actuator arm.
 25. The brush ofclaim 24, wherein one of the scroll wheel and the body of the handleportion is provided with at least one tab and the other of the scrollwheel and the body of the handle portion is provided with at least onegroove, the tabs and grooves being arranged such that in use a tab maybe located within a groove to impede motion of the actuator arm.
 26. Thebrush of claim 23, wherein the actuator arm is connected at an upper endto the brush head and is shaped such that linear motion of the actuatorarm causes a rotational motion of the brush head.
 27. The brush of claim23, wherein the actuator arm runs along a track provided in the shaft ofthe handle portion.
 28. The brush of claim 23, wherein the actuator armis formed from a rubber material.
 29. The brush of claim 17, wherein abelt member is provided within the body of the brush, said belt memberbeing drivable in a longitudinal direction.
 30. The brush of claim 29,wherein an upper portion of the belt member is provided with teeth forengagement with corresponding teeth provided on the brush head.
 31. Thebrush of claim 29, wherein the belt member is provided withinterlockable protrusions provided on opposing inner belt surfaces. 32.The brush of claim 29, wherein the belt member is provided with apush-pad for operation to drive the belt member.
 33. The brush of claim32, wherein the push-pad is provided at the surface of the brush foroperation by a user.
 34. The brush of claim 29, wherein the belt memberis formed from a rubber material.
 35. The brush of claim 1, being atoothbrush.
 36. A brush comprising a mechanical drive means for rotationof the brush head.
 37. The brush of claim 36, wherein said mechanicaldrive means is comprised in a handle portion of the brush.
 38. The brushof claim 36, wherein said mechanical drive means comprises a headconnector and torque application means for applying a rotational torqueto the head connector.
 39. The brush of claim 38, wherein said torqueapplication means comprises a spring.
 40. The brush of claim 38, whereinsaid torque application means comprises a rubber band.
 41. The brush ofclaim 38, wherein a gear train is interposed between the torqueapplication means and the head connector.
 42. The brush of claim 41,wherein the gear train is an epicyclical gear train.
 43. The brush ofclaim 41, wherein an oscillator is provided at the gear train, whichcomprises a peripheral projection for engagement with an outer portionof a base of the head connector.
 44. The brush of claim 38, wherein adrive member is provided for tensioning the torque application means.45. The brush of claim 44, wherein the drive member comprises aninternal fluting for engagement with a ratchet on the handle portion tohold the drive member in place once it has been activated to tension thetorque application means.
 46. The brush of claim 44, wherein the drivemember forms a lower portion of the handle portion.
 47. The brush ofclaim 38, wherein a brake means is selectively engageable to hold thetorque application means in tension, thus preventing rotation of thehead connector.
 48. The brush of claim 47, wherein said brake meanscomprises a clamp member for selective engagement with a shaft providedat the gear train.
 49. The brush of claim 47, wherein said brake meansis operable by external pressure applied to the outer surface of thehandle portion.
 50. The brush of claim 38, wherein a brush is providedwith a head portion, engageable with the head connector for the rotationof bristles provided on the head portion.
 51. The brush of claim 36,being a toothbrush.